An Introduction to Benin
Between the 17th and 19th Centuries, the territory of present-day Benin was ruled by the Kingdom of Dahomey. The region became known as the Slave Coast during the early 17th Century, and was later absorbed into French territory and renamed French Dahomey. See full country profile.Latest Research News from Africa
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GOVERNMENT: republic
AREA: 112,622 sq km
POPULATION: 9,325,032 (July 2011 est.)
MAJOR LANGUAGE: Official Language: French
Some business and general info
The Market Research Industry
Trade and Industry in Benin
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Between the 17th and 19th Centuries, the territory of present-day Benin was ruled by the Kingdom of Dahomey. The region became known as the Slave Coast during the early 17th Century, and was later absorbed into French territory and renamed French Dahomey.
Independence came in 1960, bringing with it a democratic govern'ent that lasted for 12 years, followed by a coup, a Marxist-Leninist dictatorship, repression and financial collapse. A new Republic with a multiparty system and multiparty elections was formed in 1991.
GDP: $13.99 billion (2010 est.) - $1,500 per capita (2010 est.)
Religions Christian 42.8% (Catholic 27.1%, Celestial 5%, Methodist 3.2%, other Protestant 2.2%, other 5.3%), Muslim 24.4%, Vodoun 17.3%, other 15.5% (2002 census)
Currency: West African Franc - GBP 1 = XOF 752
Telephone Code: +229
Research Industry
The West Africa Region (Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Togo and Mali) had an MR industry turnover of $US 51m in 2010, up 10.8% on 2009.The economy of Benin is dependent on subsistence agriculture, regional trade, and cotton production with accounts for 40% of GDP and c.80% of official exports. Growth in real output of c.5% per annum in the past seven years mostly reflects rapid population growth. Services continue to contribute the largest part of GDP: Benin's geographical location gives it a role in enabling trade, transportation, transit and tourism activities with its neighbouring states.
$1.254bn worth of cotton, cashew nuts, shea butter, textiles, palm products and seafood were exported from Benin in 2010, heading for the most part to India, China, Niger, Nigeria and Namibia. Imports for the same year had a total value of $1.781bn, coming in from China, the USA, France, Thailand, Malaysia and the Netherlands, with key commodities including food, capital goods and petroleum products.
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